BOE Meeting Covers Nashville Chorus Trip, Tour Of Georgia, And Free And Reduced Meals

By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor

During the Dade County Board of Education’s monthly meeting on Aug. 26, two student trips were presented, meal costs and the process of funding free and reduced meals were discussed, and various action items were approved.

Josh Ingle (superintendent) reported that the Davis Elementary School building construction is estimated to be completed in April. He also noted the success of Kid’s Day on July 27 which was organized by Kristen Barrett (school social worker) and Martha Baker of Dade First Family Connection. At the event, 350 children received free school supplies, and Baker is looking forward to the event in future years.

Gabrielle Haston (DCHS/DMS director of choral activities) reported on the Dade County High School chorus’ invitation to the Athena Festival in Nashville, Tenn. Leaving after school on Feb. 27 and returning on March 3, the students would be excused from Friday and Monday classes.

The singer/songwriter festival features songs written and performed by students, with awards presented at the end and a $1,000 prize to the winning songwriter(s). All invited groups also get to record three takes of their original songs at Ocean Way Studios. The best take from each group will be released on a Spotify compilation album.

Other highlights include performing inside the Parthenon replica/museum and participating in a masquerade ball in the Parthenon.

Haston reported that she anticipates between 25 and 35 students will want to go on the trip, and it is much less expensive than the spring New York City trip.

Jonathan Page (DMS media specialist) then reported on plans for this year’s Dade Middle School Tour of Georgia trip. On alternating years, DMS offers trips for seventh and eighth graders. The Washington D.C. trip was last school year, so the Tour of Georgia will be this year, May 5-8.

Page noted that the trip covers many seventh and eighth grade social science and science standards. Stops on the trip include Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Little White House, the Okefenokee Swamp, a dolphin boat tour, trolley tour of Savannah, Old Fort Jackson, and the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

The cost (all expenses included) went up from about $675 per student to $825 per student, and it’s about $1,050 per adult. Page noted that whatever a student raises goes directly to his or her portion of the trip. The school can take as many students as are able to go, which usually is about 80.

Next, Jennifer Bowden (director of school nutrition) explained why Dade County Schools are not on Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Ingle noted that a neighboring school district switched to CEP to feed all students for free, which sparked calls about why Dade County Schools are not on CEP. (Instead, the school system participates in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.)

In summary, CEP would’ve cost the school district at least $264,387.28 last school year. This number does not take into account the amount offset by paid meals (which would’ve been provided for free under CEP). Therefore, the school system would’ve had to cover this cost from non-federal funds, a la carte sales, contributions, or the General Fund.

CEP includes students on SNAP or TANF, students in foster care, homeless students, migrant students, and Medicaid free students but excludes Medicaid reduced students and income applicants. Under the current system, all of these students receive free/reduced meals.

Bowden explained the complicated process of how meal reimbursements are calculated, and due to the percentage of Dade students that fall into the covered categories, the reimbursement amount that Dade County Schools receive is lower on CEP, therefore costing the school system.

The board members confirmed that this was not a recommendation to switch to CEP. Jennifer Hartline (Sand Mountain District representative) asked if CEP also impacts the quality of food served in the cafeterias. Bowden said yes, she is concerned that going on CEP would reduce the quality of the food.

Bowden said, “I would love for everybody to have free breakfast and free lunch, but somebody has to pay for it.”

Bowden and the board agreed that with the current system, the students who truly need free meals are getting them, it is kept confidential, and that some families qualify who might not think they qualify. Therefore, the schools encourage all interested families to fill out the free and reduced meals application.

The board then approved several items. Ahead of the meeting, Ingle sent the board members a list of fundraisers which the board approved at the meeting. An annual formality, the board voted to once again accept the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Perkins V Program Improvement Grant.

Relating to facilities, the board approved a deductive change order for the Dade Elementary School HVAC project (down from $1,274,000 to $1,199,000) and approved an RFP from Sound Solutions for the DCHS auditorium sound and lighting system. The current system is original to the 1995 building, and Ingle reported to the Sentinel after the meeting that the bid is $219,379.

The board approved a contract with Cross and Dot, an e-rate consultant, to replace the previous consultant who has retired. Ingle noted that the technology department works directly with e-rate consultants.

Lastly, the board approved submitting an application to receive capital outlay funds for a roof replacement project at Davis. Ingle explained that the roof will soon need to be replaced, but before beginning the project, the board must submit the application. Per the capital outlay plan, the project is estimated to cost $268,836, of which $58,655 should be eligible for reimbursement.

The personnel report is as follows:

• Resignation: Vaughn Gordy
• Hire: Shyann King, Krystle Wilburn, Savannah Harley, Gracelyn Langley, Brianna West, Roy White, Chase West, Mary (Meg) Weaver
• School Nutrition: Melissa Ellis, Debbie Thompson, Kylie Holley
• Substitute Teacher: Mildred McElhaney, Lee Anne Gibson, Tonia Stevens, Katherine Ragon, Jan Greene